William e



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet `1.

W4. E. VINCENT. GAN HEADING MAGHINE.

No. 274,863. Patented Mar-.27,1888

WITNESEES:

(No Model.) 4 2 ShLeeiis--Sheet 2.

W. E. VINCENT.

Y GAN HEADING MAGHINE.

No. 274,863. Patented Mar.27.1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

WILLIAM E.A VINCENT, OE PORT DEPOSIT, MARYLAND, vASSIGNOR TO REYNOLDS BROTHERS, OE SAME PLAOE.

CAN-HEADING MACHINE.

l SPECIFICATION forming part o f Letters Patent No. 274,863, dated March 27, 1883.

` Application filed January 25, 1383. (No model.)

- of Port Deposit, in the county of Cecil and State of Maryland, have inventedcertain Improvementsin Gan-Headi ng Machines, ot'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for crimping the heads or ends of tin cans upon the bodies, and is especially designed for operating upon cans having a V-shaped groove formed in their bodies parallel with and close to each end. f

The invention consistsin various features and details of construction, hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of my improved machine from the rear; Fig. 2, a perspective view from thefront; Fig. 3, alongitudnal verti.

cal section through the machine, showing acan in position; Fig; 4, an enlarged view, showing the can in the shape in whichit is placed in the machine preparatory to heilig acted upon thereby.V

As mentioned, this machine is designed to operate upon cans having a groove or corrugation extending around its body close to each end, as indicated in Fig. 4, such cans having long been used; and the purpose ot' the machine is to crimp or bend the flanges ot' the heads or ends of the can down into the grooves or corrugations, both ends being acted upon simultaneously.

Referring now` to the drawings, A represents a frame, preferably made of metal, in which are mounted two short Shafts or spindles, B and C, directly in line with one another, but separated a distance about equal to the length n of the can to be operated upon. -The spindle B is `shouldered or otherwise held against moving endwise; but spindle C is arranged to slide longitudinally in its bearings, being pressed toward spindle B by a spring, D, bearing against its outer end. Both spindles or shafts are free to rotate in the frame A, and

spindle Bis furnished with a crank, E, a bandi wheel, or other means of imparting rotary moi tion thereto. Each spindle or shaft B 0 carries a dat disk, F, slightly smaller in diameter `'than the heads ofthe can, and of a form adapted to lit or conform to the face of the latter, as more plainly indicated in Fig. 3.

The can to be'operated upon comes to the machine in the condition represented in Fig.

'4, with the corrugations or grooves t formed not only to insure the firm reteution'ol' the can,

but also to cause the two disks to turn in unison when motion is imparted to spindle B.

In order that the disks may be readily separated to permit the insertion of a` new can or the removal ot'one that has been operated upon, I provide a lever, H, which is pivoted to a suitable post or support, and has its inner end forked to embrace land enter a grooved collar orboss, d, on Ihe spindle C, the outer endof the lever being connected with a treadle or foot-lever, I, by a cord or chain, J, passing over a pulley, k, in such manner that when thetreadle or foot-lever is depressed the lever H will be moved horizontally, and in thus moving it draws back the spindle C and its disk against thepressure ofthe spring D. 1n this way the disks* may be separated by merely.-r pressing with the foot upon the treadle, leaving both hands free to adjust the can, turn the crank,

and perform other necessary operations.

rlhe crimping is effected by one ormore pair ot' rollers, L L, two pair being preferably used,

one pair mounted upon a rod or bar, a, carried by a spring-arm, M,and the other upon a rod, N, extending across the frame of the machine below the disks. The rod N is employed, whether provided with rolls or not, and serves, in conjunction with a similar rod, O, placed on the Opposite side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of spindles B C, to center the can as it is placed in the machine, the rods being each placed a distance from the axis of rangement leaves the edges of both heads exthe spindles equal to the radius of the cans, or a trifle more. The spring-arm M presses normally toward the axis of spindles B G, and is sufficiently strong to insure aproper crimping action of the rolls carried thereby; and in order that the crimping-rolls may be lifted when inserting or removing a can, I attach a cord 0r band,f, to said spring and carry it. upward 'overa pulley, and thence through or over suitable guides or pulleys to the treadle or footlever I, so that when the latter is depressedit will raise the spring-arm M and rollers L L simultaneously with the withdrawal ofspiudle G, thus placing the control ot' these parts under the pressure of the operators foot. The arm'M is preferably made adjustable, being held by a set-screw,j. The rollers L L of rod e, as also those on rod or shaft N, when used thereon, are free to rotate upon the rods, and are pressed toward each other by springs g, which are sufficiently elastic to yield readily and permit the rolls to move outward or apart in case of meeting with any irregularities in the part operated upon, or it' required to operate upon a can of slightly greater length than usual. This feature is ot' great importance, and is essential to a machine designed to opcrate upon both ends simultaneously.

The rollers are of the form indicated in Fig. 3, the flange or lip 7L being designed to travel on the end face ot' the head and the beveled portioni to act upon thc flange c of the head,`

as shown. l

lt will be seen that some ot' the parts may be modified as to their arrangement-as, for instance, by substituting a spiral spring upon the shaft of spindle G for the straight spring shown, by arranging the roller shaft or rod N to risc and fallin guides and providing springs to bear upon its ends, by employing an upright elbow-leverin lieu ot' the lever H andthe cordguiding pulleys, and in other details that will posed.

The rods or spindles N and e will ordinarily be held stationary, or prevented from rotating; but they may be permitted to rotate, it being immaterial to the action of the machine which plan is adopted. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with frame A, spindles B C, provided with disks F F, lever H, and spring-arm M, the latter carrying crimpingrollers L L, and both the lever and the springarm connected with a treadle or lever, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a can-holder substantially such as described, a spring-arm provided with a rod carrying crimping-rollers adapted to act upon both heads ot' the can simultaneously.

3. In combination with a can-holder substantially such as described, a rod provided with crimping-rollers to act simultaneously upon opposite ends of the can held by said holder and held normally at a given position upon the rod by spring-pressure, whereby they are permitted to adapt their position to variations or irregularities of the can.

4. In a can-heading machine, the combination of a can-holder, a crimping-roll 'loosely mounted upon a rod, and a spring arranged to press against the crimping-roll and to sustain it in a given position until pressed back by an uneven projection of the can orits head.

5. In combination with a can-holder substantially such as described, the rod provided with loose crimping-rolls L L, and springs g, all arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

6. The herein-described can-heading machine, consisting of frame A, spindles B C, carrying disks F F, spring-arm M, carrying rod e, provided with yielding rollers L L, lever H, connected with spindle O, substantially as shown, and treadle or lever I, connected with lever H and spring-arm M, all substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM E. VINCENT.

GEO. W. VANDIVER. 

